Marquee Matchup for West Ham Leicester a Midfield Melee

West Ham and Leicester City will have a crucial late-season battle that will impact the race for the Europa League. This matchup will be determined by two young, English talents in the midfield – one attacking, one defending.

This may be the most anticipated marquee matchup of the season that I’ll write. What could have been vs. what shouldn’t have been; James Maddison and Declan Rice. West Ham’s miss on Maddison was massive last offseason, but the ascension of Rice to midfield maestro has helped heal that wound.

James Maddison

More from Green Street Hammers - West Ham

As for Maddison, he’s having an absolute stunning inaugural year in the Premier League. The young Englishman has impressed after making the jump from the Championship, scoring impressively worked balls and tkaing superb set pieces.

This season, Maddison has played in 32 Premier League games, racking up 8 goals in this time and adding six assists, too.

The danger when playing against Maddison comes from his playmaking and vision on the pitch. He’s a committed attacking midfielder and is gifted at visualizing the play before it happens. This helps him unlock defenses almost at will, supplying the likes of Jamie Vardy.

Atop a midfield three of Ndidi, Teilemans, and himself, Maddison will be the set piece threat against the Irons. He is the key to shutting down the Leicester City attack.

Declan Rice

Declan Rice may be the perfect counterpart to James Maddison. The defensive midfielder has been West Ham’s best outfield player all season long, making plays that a youngster like himself has no right to make. Last week he shut down Paul Pogba (penalty merchant) and bossed the midfield against Manchester United. West Ham need him to do to same against Leicester this week.

Like Maddison, Rice sees the game in a special way. He doesn’t use that skill to set up attacks, but rather shut them down. Rarely seen making a foul, Rice has near perfect timing and presence of mind to stick a foot in and win a ball back. Again, he did it to Manchester United last week, hollowing out their midfield along the way.

His interceptions will be key in this match, too. Rice’s propensity to step up and break up play with a well-timed interception will be crucial against Maddison and Teilemans. Both of these players pull the strings, but with Maddison committed forward more so, Rice will be tasked with disrupting those plays specifically.

Next. Claret surroundings the start and not the solution to West Ham home. dark

Overall, I believe the advantage goes to Rice over Maddison but not by much. Both players have had breakout seasons this year and both players play of different ends of the pitch. Rice’s ascension to the England squad at his age over the likes of Maddison shows just how talented the West Ham man is. What a matchup this should be!